Lake Heights woman refused bail on murder charge

A 39-year-old Lake Heights woman has been refused bail on a charge of murdering Wollongong lawyer Katie Foreman.Wendy Evans, 39, is one of four people charged over the murder of solicitor Katie Foreman, 31, who died on October 27 after a fire ripped through her Corrimal home.Wearing a black tracksuit and joggers, Evans sat across from Ms Foreman’s parents but looked away during the brief proceedings in Wollongong Local Court this afternoon.She did not apply for bail, which was formally refused, and was scheduled to appear by audio-visual link in the same court on February 8.At Mt Druitt Local Court earlier today, bail was refused for Bernard Spicer, 30, of Whalan in Sydney’s west, and Michelle Proud, 27, of Eastern Creek.They have been remanded in custody to face Wollongong Local Court on January 11.Late this afternoon a 39-year-old Woonona man was charged with murder and was refused bail to face Wollongong Local Court tomorrow.In addition to murder, all four have both been charged with intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging property with intent to endanger life.Each was arrested following simultaneous search warrants executed on homes in Lake Heights, Woonona and Whalan at 7am today.Emergency services were called to a blaze at Ms Foreman’s address in Doncaster St, Corrimal, at 2.30am on October 27.After the blaze was extinguished, the 31-year-old’s body was located inside. A post mortem indicated she died from the effects of the fire.Initial inquiries revealed the fire was suspicious and Strike Force Current, comprising detectives from the Homicide Squad and the Property Crime Squad’s Arson Unit, was formed to investigate.